A24’s new MMA biopic The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Mark Kerr, has landed in theaters. Based in part on the 2002 documentary, it attempts to dramatize Kerr’s rise in UFC/PRIDE, his addiction struggles, and the toll both took on his life, love, and legacy.
The bar for MMA movies is notoriously low. Outside of Warrior, Here Comes The Boom, and maybe Never Back Down, most fight films have been forgettable. Thankfully, The Smashing Machine belongs in the “good” column — though it isn’t without flaws.
If you’ve seen the iconic 2002 documentary of the same name, you’ll know this story already. Much of the film feels like a retelling, with some scenes recreated nearly shot-for-shot. But the selling point here is Johnson, and he delivers in a way we haven’t seen before. Known for playing “The Rock” in every film, he disappears into Kerr — from the physique, to the mannerisms, to the soft, almost fragile voice. He’s tremendous, and easily the best part of the movie. It’s a performance that has already sparked early Oscar buzz, and deservedly so (UFC CEO Dana White was right)
The acting across the board is solid. Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman is actually really good — even though he looks and sounds nothing like Coleman — but Johnson and Emily Blunt (as Kerr’s partner Dawn) are electric together. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the film leans heavily into the toxicity of their relationship. While super compelling, it often overshadows other elements of Kerr’s story, which leaves the film feeling empty.
As for the fighting? There isn’t as much of it as fans might expect. The film shows Kerr’s early Vale Tudo success and parts of his PRIDE run, but skips over big chunks of his UFC career and the reason he left UFC (fighter pay). What is shown, however, feels raw and authentic — Safdie captures the chaos of early MMA in a way that looks and feels real.
The movie also tackles Kerr’s battle with addiction. While it doesn’t always ring true, it adds weight to the portrait of a fighter whose toughest opponent was himself. As a recovering addict myself, it was pretty unbelievable, but that’s a story for another time.
Overall, The Smashing Machine is authentic and heartfelt, but uneven in its execution. It’s a film with a lot of power and sincerity, yet one that can feel oddly hollow at times. Still, thanks to Johnson’s career-best performance, it stands as one of the better MMA films on the market.
Hopefully, Hollywood decides to do more biopics on MMA fighters because boy oh boy, there are plenty of insane stories to choose from.
Final grade: 6.5/10
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